Can someone please explain tipping vendors?

Can you explain the whole vendors and tipping thing? I expected that gratuity and tip would be charged for each person’s meal, but I really didn’t expect that each vendor should be given a tip too! It seems like I’d need to add that as a category on our budget!

I believe the rule of thumb is this – you tip vendors who do not own their business. So for example, if your DJ is part of a company then you tip him. But if your photographer owns his own business, no tip.

So I looked online who needed to be tipped and I put a star next to them. When I went to talk to my inlaws who are helping pay for the meal/alcohol, they said some of the people I stared, didn’t need to be tipped so this was what I gathered from it. I could be completely wrong and I am just going off the list I have for the stuff at my wedding and what we went over with whom I should and shouldn’t tip. Hope this helps a little

People to Tip:Drivers- TipWait Staff- Tip (usually included in final bill….double check)Hair Stylist – especially if they come to you Set Up Crew for Decor

People who I was told I didn’t have to Tip:DJPhotographer Baker who makes my cakeOfficiant – if you don’t go to a church and someone comes to you than you don’t need to tip, if in a church usually there is a donation made to the church of some sortFloristPrinting company for Invitations

I have an issue with the idea that tips are expected. You should tip based on who gives superior service. However, that’s not the reality and certain people should get a tip. My understanding is anyone who provides a service and does not own their own business should get a tip. For catering, the “service charge” isnt always tip. It’s more like the delivery fee when you order a pizza. So servers should be tipped on top. I would probably tip the dj and photographer, give a nice gift or donate to the officiant’s church, but florist and printer are getting paid for their work.

I am not tipping any of the vendors. I am tipping my hair stylist – but he is doing my hair as a wedding present and is a guest to boot. I see no reason to tip vendors – they are paid plenty and the fee should cover all.

We are not tipping our photographer or florist but we do plan on giving them thank you cards and probably a small gift of some sort. This is totally not required but we really really like them and they have been super helpful throughout this process.

@canuckandakiwi: I don’t know what percentage we gave, but I will tell you the amounts:

Even though the DJ owned his company, we gave him $300 and let him divide it up between him and his helpers.

Photographers/Videographer: We had 2 photographers and 1 videographer. We gave them $100 each. (Even though the videographer owned his business, we still tipped bc he was very nice to us and helpful, his work is great. We referred a friend to him and he gave us a referral discount on our contract, so we gave him a little something).

Limo Driver we gave $50, we weren’t in the limo for more than 20 mins total. It took literally 3 mins to get from my house to the church and 10 mins from the church to the reception hall. That was it, they didn’t do a pick up at the end of the night. So we felt that $50 would suffice being that we didn’t even need the limo for more than an hour, but most limo companies require you pay for at least 3 hrs.

Our venue said the suggested amount is $2-$4 per guest. and for us that would have came out to around $400 and we spoke with friends and family and they said that $250 would suffice.

And yes, go to the bank and put the tips in an envelope and have someone give them out at the end of the night. My husband took care of all the tips. He told all vendors to see him at the end of the night before leaving so he can give them their tips

@FutureMrsLadolcettaWe have a day of wedding coordinator and she sent us suggested tipping guidelines. Firstly, they said tipping not mandatory but appreciated for excellent service. We plan on preparing all our envelopes accordingly and will give them to our vendors unless they do something disasterous but I don’t think that will happen.

Here are their suggestions, we are going with them:

For the DJ they suggest $50-$100. You should check if there is going to be more than one person. We are planning the $100 for the lead and $50 for the assistant/setup guy.

For celebratants they suggest $100-$300 for a religious celebrant and $50-$75 for a civil celebrant. So we are doing $250 for our priest.

For hair stylists, it’s typically 15-20%, but that’s probably standard of any good hair service.

Live music is $25-$50 per muscian.

For a driver/limo, I know a lot of companies quoted that they included tip. the one we went with didn’t and we are going to do $50, which I think is decent for only 2 hours of time.

Our cater built in a service charge but if you don’t have anything built into your price, I suggest 15% to 20% of the FOOD cost.

does anyone have any suggestions for someone who is offering their services for free? My FSIL is getting someone to do our hair, nails, and make-up that is a friend of hers, and I’m under the impression she is offering her services for free. Do I tip her, or get her a gift or what?